Romance Languages & Literatures at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
38
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,658/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (58% exposed)
Job Market Large (75,000 openings/yr)
ROI 8.4x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #72 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Romance Languages & Literatures graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $541K $535K $491K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.5x 8.4x 7.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.1x 3.1x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 38 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$63,952
Out-of-state: $173,488 (3.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$83,004
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
9.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,726
53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $35,658/yr, Romance Languages & Literatures graduates from Michigan State University land near the $34,637 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Romance Languages & Literatures's typical career paths, with 58% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 9 months of the $35,658 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #72 of 198 Romance Languages & Literatures programs, Michigan State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $54,726 show a 53% jump from the $35,658 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Michigan State University

With 84% of applicants admitted, Michigan State University prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 40,243 students in East Lansing, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan State University →

Top Career Paths

Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary $77,010/yr
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580/yr
Interpreters and translators $59,440/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Romance Languages & Literatures at Michigan State University?
A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Romance Languages & Literatures. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Romance Languages & Literatures careers?
With 58% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $490,563 in decade earnings vs $541,364 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →